New TaylorMade Ghost Tour putters

Instead of focusing on enhancing performance, like TaylorMade has with its recent crop of counter-balanced putters, the company decided to turn its attention to detailing and craftsmanship for its new line of Ghost Tour putters, which will hit shelves on Aug. 30.

The Ghost Tour putters feature the same secondary alignment system as the company’s Spider Blade and Spider Mallet putters — white lines in the cavity of the putter head that are parallel to the putters’ dominant alignment line. But that and the putters’ black-and-white paint scheme are about the only things they have in common.

The white secondary lines in the cavity provide golfers with a “secondary read” at address, helping them fine tune the alignment of their putter face.

The new Ghost Tour putters have TaylorMade’s new 80/20 Pure Roll insert, which is made from 80 percent Surlyn and 20 percent aluminum. According to Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s product creation manager, it provides a feel that’s softer than the company’s Titallium insert, but not as soft as TaylorMade’s 100 percent Surlyn insert, which is used in the company’s counterbalanced putters because of their tendency to roll the ball farther.

The putters also swap the usual TaylorMade script in the back cavity for a button-styled TaylorMade logo with chrome and red piping. And instead of a brushed steel or white-painted sole, the soles of the new Ghost Tour putters have a high-polished black finish that offers more “bling.”

The new Ghost Tour putters will come in seven different models. Each will be available on Aug. 30 with the exception of the Corza, which will be released in November.

Daytona 12 (blade, L-neck, 40-degree toe hang)

Daytona 62 (blade, short curve, 57-degree toe hang)

Fontana 72 (mallet, shaft in, face-balanced)

Maranello 81 (small mallet, long curve, 65-degree toe hang)

Monte Carlo 12 (mallet, L-neck, 25-degree toe hang)

Sebring 62 (blade, short curve, 65-degree toe hang)

Corza 72 (mallet, shaft in, face-balanced)

Model updates

According to Bazzel, the Maranello 81 (pictured above) has been updated to have less offset, using new hosel blend that gives the putter a cleaner look at address. The Monte Carlo 12 has been updated to have an “L” or plumber’s neck, which is similar to TaylorMade’s Spider Mallet putter used by Sergio Garcia. The Sebring 62 has also been modified to have more toe hang, which works better for golfers who have arching putter strokes.

All models will be available in lengths of 33, 34 and 35 inches and will cost around $150. The putters have head weights of 350 grams, 5 grams heavier than the previous line. But unlike the previous line, the new putters do not have adjustable sole weights.

Custom Options

For an additional $40, golfers can upgrade the putter’s stepless steel shaft for the matte black-painted version that has become popular with TaylorMade staff members on tour.

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He played college golf at the University of Richmond, where he took too many strokes. Good thing he also studied journalism and creative writing.

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33 COMMENTS

Saying that the cosmetics of the putter doesn’t matter is a bunch of bull. It’s like buying a brand new car, driving it off the lot and then once you get home you see paint the paint coming off. Hey, but the engine is still good so the paint shouldn’t matter….LOL bull!

These putters are great for making putts which is what matters. The paint doesn’t chip when you cover it and take care if it. The Manello 81 has been an amazing putter. What is more important paint or “cheap looking” putters or making putts. Enough said.

Going to a putting specialist coach did more for my putting than a new putter. But that’s pretty old school thinking.

The paint issue is interesting – not sure I like paint anywhere it can chip off – paint in the cavity at the back of an iron – OK – paint anywhere round an edge – Bad – paint on the face – very bad. Maybe putter will go the way of guitars and have a relic option. You know, you pay extra for buying a new white putter that has been hammers and knocked about in the custom shop so on day one it pays just like a new putter, but looks like t’s been on tour for thirty years. It’s worked in the guitar market – perhaps putters as well?

Totally agree with the almost everyone else. TM makes great drivers that focus on quality and performance but their putter line is waaaayyyy behind. Callaway seems to have figued out the sweet spot. Great looks and perfomance at a moderate price.

4 years ago I took my 33.5 center shafted spider and installed a belly putter grip. I used a little lead tape up the shaft for counter balancing and had to heavy layer the grip tape at the bottom so the grip would fit. Best combo I have ever used. The spider is the only putter they have ever made.

Not a good one. I use the headcover religiously on my spider blade. White paint chipping off the edge of the face and black paint peeling off the edges of the insert. Also signs of wear behind the grooved insert where the “foam” seems to be.